Nine-banded Armadillo

Unlike most mammals, armadillos have little body hair to provide insulation. In part, this explains why they are such avid burrowers - in order to avoid extremes of temperature.

Nine-banded armadillos live alone, but create a large number of dens, excavating the soil with their powerful claws.

In some cases, these dens can act as food traps, luring invertebrates inside. Dens intended for breeding have an enlarged chamber at the end, lined with vegetation, which helps to keep the young warm. If they need to swim, Nine-banded armadillos can swallow air. This helps maintain their buoyancy and keep them afloat.

Distribution: South-central and southeastern parts of the USA, via Central America to South America, as far as Peru and Uruguay. Also present in the Caribbean.